RandomNumberGenerator Class (System.Security.Cryptography)

RandomNumberGenerator Class

.NET Framework Class Library

RandomNumberGenerator Class

Represents the abstract class from which all implementations of cryptographic random number generators derive.

Namespace: System.Security.Cryptography
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

Visual Basic

<ComVisibleAttribute(True)> _
Public MustInherit Class RandomNumberGenerator _
    Implements IDisposable

[ComVisibleAttribute(true)]
public abstract class RandomNumberGenerator : IDisposable

Visual C++

[ComVisibleAttribute(true)]
public ref class RandomNumberGenerator abstract : IDisposable

[<AbstractClassAttribute>]
[<ComVisibleAttribute(true)>]
type RandomNumberGenerator =  
    class
        interface IDisposable
    end

Remarks

Cryptographic random number generators create cryptographically strong random values.

Application code does not directly use this class. This abstract class is provided as the base class for all cryptographic random number generators.

For an implementation of a cryptographic random number generator, use the derived class RNGCryptoServiceProvider.

Inheritance Hierarchy

System..::.Object
System.Security.Cryptography..::.RandomNumberGenerator
System.Security.Cryptography..::.RNGCryptoServiceProvider

Thread Safety

Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.

Platforms

Windows 7, Windows Vista SP1 or later, Windows XP SP3, Windows XP SP2 x64 Edition, Windows Server 2008 (Server Core Role not supported), Windows Server 2008 R2 (Server Core Role not supported), Windows Server 2003 SP2

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 4, 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Framework Client Profile

Supported in: 4, 3.5 SP1

Reference

RandomNumberGenerator Members

System.Security.Cryptography Namespace

Other Resources

Cryptographic Services